Katy man's family: 'He is not a murderer'

By Harvey Rice |
February 21, 2005

The family of a Katy man accused of killing his pregnant wife and her unborn child stood behind the headstone of the victims' grave Sunday to speak in his defense.

"I am here to state clearly and emphatically that my brother, David Mark Temple, is completely innocent of the charge brought against him," said his older brother, Darren, who read a brief statement from the family. It was their first comment on the case.

David Temple, then a coach at the Hastings Ninth Grade Center, was arrested in November in the 1999 shooting death of his wife, Belinda, who was eight months pregnant. Investigators say he had been having an affair with another teacher, whom he later married.

Belinda Temple's body was found in an upstairs closet at the couple's home. She was killed by a shotgun blast to the back of the head.

David Temple's parents, Kenneth and Maureen, stood with their sons, Darren and Kevin, behind the tombstone engraved with Belinda's name and with the name of her unborn child, Erin Ashley.

They said they had undisclosed evidence they were prepared to present to the Harris County grand jury that will re-examine the case, including videotapes from surveillance cameras showing him and his son, now 10, shopping at the time of his wife's death.

Darren Temple said witnesses saw two men in a four-door car speed away after a shotgun blast was heard.

He repeated allegations that District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal charged Temple with murder because the facts were similar to the Laci Peterson case, creating publicity to further his political career.

"(The investigation) has been going on for a while and has absolutely nothing to do with, whatever that case is, in California," Rosenthal said. "Lastly, I don't need any publicity."